Soft Feelings For Hardware

Leslieville/Riverside
As part of my on-going saga to reorganize my home, I decided to relocate my stereo system. Situated beside the front door of my loft squeezed into a 60s teak buffet so the cabinet doors could never be closed, its cumbersome placement greeted guests the moment they arrived. Needless to say, it didn’t provide a very inviting sense of arrival. In fact, it kind of felt like you were walking straight into the living room. To combat this I decided to move the system to a tiny alcove under the stairs that served no useful purpose.
Above is the before pic.
I wish moving the system was as simple as unplugging it and plugging it back in. Instead, it entailed having the Kromer Radio technician feed all the surround sound wires for the seven speakers serving the main level through the demising walls from its original placement to the new location, having my electrician add new power outlets (who ever thought one would need electrical outlets in a tiny alcove?) and then having my painter patch and re-paint the walls. As I keep forgetting, nothing is easy when you’re doing your home improvements ‘right’.
I was pleased with the idea, the progress, and the overall plan. But I was troubled trying to find the right cabinet that would allow me to place my stereo components on it, while providing ample space for my extensive compact disc collection (how old school is that?). You may recall, back on March 8th when I wrote “Left In The Dust”, the new bookshelf in my study was supposed to hold the cd collection but all my books consumed it, signalling the turning point when my organizational home life began to unravel.
I have long been a fan of Hardware Interiors, the charming Queen East storefront where designers Murray and Jordan reinvent vintage pieces and salvaged materials into new furnishings, lighting and art brimming with a patina and character difficult to find, especially if you need something perfectly sized for a challenging space. Like an awkward alcove under your stairs.
This new cabinet wrapped in reclaimed wood and topped with hot rolled steel on a stainless steel base is perfect for my loft. The wood has many of the colours found in my space (this photo makes my maple staircase look a shocking yellow – it’s not that horrific – i promise), the hot rolled steel complements the blackboard painted walls and helps the cabinet disappear into the void, and it’s the perfect size for my music collection. Hardware Interiors custom fitted the cabinet to hold all my cds, cut out additional holes for equipment and lighting, and ensured the dimensions would fit the space exactly to my requests. The cost: $2600. It’s a big investment for me, but I’ll own it indefinitely. I can’t see why I would ever fall out of love with this piece!
Here’s a photo taken by my pal Greg Paupst!
Visit Hardware Interiors or check out their storefront at:
760 Queen Street East (just east of Broadview Avenue)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
416-462-3099
Stay tuned for Rejuvenating The Button Factory about my unique urban home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
 
~Steven and the urbaneer team
 

City Living
Rejuvenating The Button Factory
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